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March 10, 2008

Thailand govt perhaps 3 years away from new n-plant consideration

Nuclear power may need to wait three more years for the government of Thailand to consider going forward with it. Kovit Kantapasara, head of Thailand and Indonesia for GE Energy, said: "It is one of cleanest sources of fuel and at a relatively cheaper price compared to other alternative fuels. In the real world, we need a balance between environmental and economic factors." The Surayud Chulanont government approved the launch of a preliminary study into the development of nuclear power in the existing Power Development Plan. Unsurprisingly, the policy has attracted considerable attention from consumer and environmental activists who argue that even a slight error could have a catastrophic effect. Supporters of nuclear power say the risks are overblown with new technology that has significantly reduced the possibility of radiation leaks.

[Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand), "GE Energy Says Thailand Should Use Coal and Nuclear", March 10, 2008]

March 2, 2007

* Nuclear power plant panel to be set up
Bangkok Post (Thailand)

Thailand's National Energy Policy Council Friday agreed to set up a committee to study the possibility of building a nuclear power plant there. One of the options under the nation's draft power development plan for 2007-2021 is building 5,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity to supply electricity starting in 2020. Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said it would take about seven years for the committee to study the issue and decide whether a nuclear plant should be built. He added that the study should begin soon because of the limited fuel supply. "It's necessary that we have an alternative," he told reporters. "If we study about it now, we can have the nuclear power plant in the next 13 years." The Council of State will review the law before it is forwarded to the Cabinet for approval and the National Legislative Assembly for final approval.

September 30, 2003

Thailand approves research reactor construction

Thailand's National Commission on Atomic Energy for Peace has approved construction of a 10-megawatt research reactor in Onkharak, Nakhon Nayok. The reactor will be built by US-based General Atomic. The project was proposed in 1989 by the Chatchai Choonhavan administration, and won government approval in 1992. In 1998, the Office of Atomic Energy for Peace signed a contract with General Atomic to design, construct and operate the reactor. The contract expired three years ago, and GA's demand for Bt900-million compensation has not been paid. The construction cost is estimated at Bt3.55-billion.

The Commission's decision is controversial. An environmental impact report on the project has twice been rejected by the National Environment Board, most recently in July. A safety analysis report was also rejected by the Nuclear Safety Sub-committee (NSS) in Thailand and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Thailand did, however, get a favorable opinion on the safety report from Argonne National Laboratory.

Suwit Khunkitti, deputy prime minister and chairman of the NSS, told reporters that the project was necessary since it would conduct research and development in nuclear technology for the country's benefit. The Commission's decision came a day after Suwit, Science Minister Pinij Charusombat, and the secretary-general of the Office of Atomic Energy for Peace, Kriengkorn Petchabutr, had lunch together. Kriengkorn reaches retirement age tomorrow. Pinij excluded himself from the decision of the Commission: 'Frankly, I do not have any authority to make decisions on the project. Everything is under the consideration of Deputy Prime Minister Suwit,' he said.